Articles

MedBAN 2 open calls for Blue Economy SMEs (internationalisation and innovation) | Deadline 28 August 2024

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Deadline: 28 August 2024
Budget:  Total €1.4 M | 8.965 per SME for Consulting or Training Services
Countries: EU-27, except Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, and Italy

MedBAN (the Mediterranean Blue Acceleration Network) deployed two simultaneous but separate open calls for EU Blue Economy SMEs.

These open calls are awarded financial support that funds two different sets of services: one for innovation, training and twin transformation of businesses and one for internationalisation actions.

Read all details by clicking the respective links

Innovation, Training and Twin Transition in the Blue Economy
Internationalisation in the Blue Economy

For more information about the MedBan project visit the project website

IMERMAID Open Call to safeguard the Mediterranean Sea from chemical pollution | Deadline: 17 September 2024

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Deadline:  17 Sept 2024
Budget/ Technical Assistance: € 400.000 (100.000 per project) | 9 months technical assistance
Countries/ regions: a.o. Algeria, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Portugal Tunisia
More information: website

 

The iMERMAID project is thrilled to announce the launch of an open call for Associated Regions to participate in its groundbreaking initiative aimed at protecting the Mediterranean Sea basin from chemical pollution.

This open call invites regional and local public authorities located in EU Member States and Associated Regions to propose use cases that address their specific challenges and objectives, aligning with the goals of iMERMAID.

The selected projects should demonstrate the feasibility, replicability, and scalability of the iMERMAID solutions. In total, €400,000 will be invested in Open Call #1 to fund and support four associated regions projects that will join this vital mission.

 

Community-led actions to restore our ocean, seas and waters | Deadline 18 Sept 2024

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Deadline:  18 Sept 2024
Budget/ Technical Assistance: € 50.000.000
Countries/ regions: a.o. all WestMED countries
More information: website


This call aims to mobilize communities of actors across the European Union to take decisive action in restoring, protecting, and preserving our ocean, seas, and waters. The call will support community-led pilot actions and transition agendas, as well as provide technical assistance tailored to the needs of Mission communities. Community-led actions will focus on implementing innovative solutions that transcend traditional approaches, incorporating technological, nature-based, social, cultural, regulatory, and financial innovations.

Additionally, the call encourages collaboration with scientific institutions and the integration of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines to ensure the societal impact of innovation activities. Applicants are encouraged to foster partnerships with local stakeholders, NGOs, government agencies, and relevant actors to maximize the impact and scalability of their initiatives.

Technical assistance to support communities of actors to achieve the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters objectives | Deadline 22 May 2024

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Deadline:  24 May 2024
Budget: technical assistance (non financial)
Countries: European/ Mission lighthouses basins (Mediterranean,  Atlantic and Arctic basin,Baltic and North Sea basin, Danube River basin)
More information: dedicated funding page


Objective
The objective of the technical assistance is to support selected applicants in developing and strengthening their actions contributing to one or more of the targets of the Mission Ocean and Waters. By participating in this call for technical assistance, selected projects will gain access to technical assessments and feasibility studies. The technical assistance shall match the needs, capacity, and interests of applicants, providing tailored expert support for applicants’ projects on key dimensions such as regulatory, technical, economic, operational, environmental, and commercial feasibility. The feasibility studies will provide an assessment of the overall viability of projects, defining risks, opportunities, and probability of success and analysing whether the planned projects are legally, technically, financially, economically, operationally, environmentally, and commercially justifiable and feasible. The studies shall also provide recommendations on how to improve the feasibility of selected actions. Through the technical assistance, selected beneficiaries will gain a clearer understanding of the project feasibility and/or requirements to scale up and further develop the project. 

Eligibility
The Call for Expression of Interest seeks to collect applications from relevant communities of actors, who wish to contribute to the objectives of the Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ in one of the EU Mission lighthouses basins. Applicants must be from one of the three target communities: ports, fisheries, islands. Actions must be located within the Mission lighthouses basins (Mediterranean, Atlantic, Arctic, Danube, and North & Baltic Sea). 

Duration
The typical duration of the technical assistance delivery is between 4-6 months, commencing after the notification of selection. 

Interreg NEXT MED: first call for proposals for transnational cooperation projects | New deadline 30 May 2024

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Deadline:  30 May 2024 (= extended/ was 30 April and 28 March)
Budget: € 103.600.000
Countries: Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia and Türkiye.
More information: website interregnextmed.eu | extension message

 

The Managing Authority of the EU-funded Interreg NEXT MED Programme, in agreement with the representatives of the 15 participating countries, is pleased to announce the launching of the first call for proposals.

With a substantial budget of €103.6 million, this call represents a unique opportunity to fund transnational cooperation projects aimed at catalyzing positive transformations and encouraging sustainable and inclusive development throughout the Mediterranean area.

In view of making the region smarter and more competitive, greener and climate resilient, more social and inclusive, the call focuses on pivotal themes for both shores of the Mediterranean: these encompass boosting research and innovation capacities, fostering SME growth, advancing renewable energy solutions, bolstering climate change adaptation measures, promoting educational opportunities, ensuring access to quality healthcare, and enhancing local governance processes, among others.

Geographical coverage of the call extends to over 100 territories from 7 EU and 8 partner countries, namely Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia and Türkiye.

Recognizing the unique added value of working together beyond borders for the development of the Mediterranean area, each project has to be submitted by a partnership representing a minimum of 3 organizations from 3 different eligible countries, including at least one Mediterranean Partner Country. A diverse array of stakeholders, including national and regional public authorities, municipalities, non-profit/civil society organizations, universities, research organizations, private companies and other relevant entities may participate in the call.

Depending on the type of projects foreseen for this call – thematic, youth-oriented and governance – the EU financial support will range from €500,000 to €2.5 million. The EU contribution cannot exceed 89% of the project total eligible costs and the project co-financing must be at least 11% of the total eligible costs.

The launching of the call will be supported by a series of information events and other activities dedicated to interested organizations to be organized across the cooperation area and online. Foreseen iniatives and dates will be announced soon on this website.

The deadline for submitting project proposals is 30 April 2024 .

Interested organisations are encouraged to carefully read the application pack of the call for proposals available here.

MEDTOUR announcement poster

Note: Interreg NEXT MED organizes a  series of national info days designed to ensure interested organizations are thoroughly prepared and well-informed for effective participation in this first call for proposals. Visit the MEDTOUR page for the events near you

Maritime Spatial Planning projects (EMFAF-2023-PIA-MSP) | Deadline 27 February 2024

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Deadline: 27 February 2024
Budget: € 4.000.000
Countries: Algeria, France, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia
More information:   funding and tender opportunities portal by the European Commission 

 

Objective

The objective of this call for proposals is to facilitate the implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the EU, including through the effective application of Directive 2014/89 establishing a framework for MSP. This call is intended to fund projects developing innovative responses to tackle specific challenges that EU Members States might encounter when putting into effect, monitoring and/or revising their maritime spatial plans.

Many of these challenges are common to coastal Member States. Therefore, there is a shared interest in developing innovative responses that can apply within a sea basin and/or across sea basins. This means that projects should bring together participants from different Member States, located in a sea basin, or from different sea basins. To meet these challenges Member States will have to:

  • Reflect and align their maritime spatial plans to the ambition of the European Green Deal and the related initiatives in areas such as climate change mitigation and/or adaptation, biodiversity, food, mobility, energy transition, alongside established activities and interests.
  • Cater for cumulative impacts of ocean stressors: promote the use of an ecosystem-based approach, including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), strengthen the process of the Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), which are an integral part of MSP and promote environmental monitoring to collect data and asses impacts (e.g. on offshore renewable energies).
  • Reinforce the sea basin dimension of MSP: meeting the above-mentioned challenges, and integrating the new EU initiatives, will require greater cooperation in planning activities in the different sea basins.
  • Making MSP digital and pan-European: The aim of this « digitalisation » is to harmonise data and to disseminate the contents of these plans through a common or shared digital platform – the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet).

Maritime ports: studies, works or mixed | Deadline: 30 January 2024

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Deadline: 30 January 2024
Budget: € 2.800.000.000
Countries: France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain
More information: Funding and tender opportunities portal by the European Commission

Objective

The objective is to develop transport infrastructure projects in maritime ports on the Core Network of the TEN-T.

Scope

Studies and / or works on core maritime ports, related to:

• port access aiming at providing safe maritime access in the form of breakwaters, access channels, fairways, locks and navigational aids (e.g. radar, buoys);
• basic port infrastructure, which are not covered under section 6.2.2 ‘Actions related to sustainable and multimodal mobility’ of the Work Programme, and with a priority on:

– development of zero or low-emission multimodal solutions;
– development of ports´ capacities and facilities in relation with the transportation activities of the offshore wind farms. The involvement of the maritime port in the transportation activities of the offshore wind farms and the need for the basic port infrastructure for those activities should be demonstrated in the proposal; or,
– improving connectivity of remote, insular or outermost regions or of Member States with no land border with another Member State.

Such basic port infrastructure may be in the form of turning basins, quay walls, berths, jetties, backfills, land reclamation, which improve the efficiency of the maritime ports and their integration within the TEN-T network. The backfills and land reclamation could be supported as interventions to create space for construction of other basic port infrastructure, e.g. a berth, quay walls, etc, but should not lead to significant added capacity (i.e. increased surface of or creation of new terminals, logistics/cargo handling areas, etc.).

• shore-side electricity supply (including an upgrade of electrical grid within the port if it is needed for the shore-side electricity supply);
• port reception facilities for oil and other waste (including residues from exhaust gas cleaning systems) to meet environmental requirements;
• ensuring year-round navigability by means of capital dredging and icebreaking facilities. The capital dredging will be supported only as an intervention to remove bottlenecks for the EU short sea shipping;
• providing or improving inland waterways/road/rail access and connections within maritime ports. The rail access could cover rail infrastructure e.g., new rail tracks, upgrade of existing rail tracks, adaptation for 740 meter long trains and connections within the maritime ports.

Works projects may include on-site renewable energy generation (synergetic element in accordance with Section 10.6 of the Work Programme), such as photovoltaic power plants, wind turbines etc. that is primarily used for example for the shore-side electricity supply, for the need of the basic port infrastructure and for diverse port operations. Such synergetic elements must improve the socioeconomic, climate or environmental benefits of the project and may not exceed 20% of the total eligible costs of the project.

EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism | Deadline: 7 December 2023

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Deadline: 7 December 2023
Budget: €2.600.000
Countries: European
More information:   funding and tender opportunities portal by the European Commission 

Description:

The subject of this call for tenders is the provision of support to the Commission, Member States, the aquaculture industry and other stakeholders in the implementation of the Communication “Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021-2030″ by providing logistic, administrative and technical support and by enhancing cooperation between Member States and stakeholders for the development of sustainable aquaculture in the EU.

Demonstrations of innovative floating wind concepts | Deadline: 21 January 2025

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Deadline: 21 January 2025
Budget: €30.000.000
Countries: Algeria,France, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia
More information:   funding and tender opportunities portal by the European Commission 

Scope

The overall aim is to accelerate the cost-effective construction and deployment of floating wind farms, facilitating their rapid and sustainable deployment across Europe and lower their overall costs.

The transition of the energy system will rely on reducing the overall energy demand and making the energy supply side climate neutral, in current and future climate conditions. R&I actions will help to make the energy supply side cleaner, more secure, and competitive by boosting cost performance and reliability of a broad portfolio of renewable energy solutions, in line with societal needs and preferences. Furthermore, R&I activities will underpin the modernisation of the energy networks to support energy system integration, including the progressive electrification of demand side sectors (buildings, mobility, industry) and integration of other climate neutral, renewable energy carriers, such as clean hydrogen.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

  • Increased knowledge about design, construction, assembly and operation and maintenance of floating wind farms.
  • Improved overall constructability, reliability, installability, operability and maintainability of floating offshore wind systems.
  • Demonstrated efficient, low-cost and sustainable emerging technologies for floating wind turbines; reduction of the LCoE.
  • Reinforced European offshore wind turbine value chain and skills.
  • Data for future optimisation of industry scale commissioning of the floater, mooring and anchor system.

 

Circular bioeconomy start-up villages | Deadline: 28 February 2024

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Deadline: 28 February 2024
Budget: €2.500.000
Countries: Algeria,France, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia
More information: funding and tender opportunities portal by the European Commission 

Scope

Applicants should demonstrate how they will provide innovative circular, sustainable and socially fair bioeconomy solutions for:

  • food systems transformation;
  • bio-based sectors, covering biological waste/residues and bio-based materials and products;
  • employing digital technologies and approaches.

Applicants should address only one of the thematic areas above, and clearly indicate it in their proposal.

Proposals are expected to contribute to the creation and support of a thematic network of start-up villages based on bioeconomy concepts, including all of the following activities:

Provide assistance and advisory support for the development and linking of startup villages and raise awareness of the rural innovators on sustainable and circular systemic bioeconomy solutions.

Develop the Start Up Village Forum initiative through a community of practice to support active engagement of all relevant actors (local and regional authorities, entrepreneurs, investors, rural cooperatives, rural communities and others) in the start-up villages and foster knowledge exchange and mutual learning between them, as well as share research, data and analytical findings.

Develop a list of case studies of local and regional start-up villages focusing on bioeconomy including sustainable food systems and bio-based solutions, identifying and presenting the respective strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.

These case studies could be used for replication and dissemination across Europe in the context of the Startup Village Forum. Proposals should involve at least three start-up villages from three different Member States / Associated Countries, ensuring geographical coverage of different regions.

Identify the challenges and development pathways for developing and scaling up of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for a sustainable bioeconomy, including businesses linked to agriculture, food, forestry, bio-based innovation and non-agricultural activities in rural areas related to the community-led local development strategies.
Address the challenges of Europe’s fragmented start-up scene and of entrepreneurship education and capacity building.
Assess possible options and create guidelines and recommendations for policy makers, investors and rural innovators summarizing, sharing and presenting existing best practices and innovations to enable replication of successful cases across Europe.

The proposals should build on the knowledge and tools already generated by the BioeconomyVentures[2] and Pilots4U[3] projects developed under Horizon 2020, as well as seek complementarities with related actions and existing[4] and upcoming[5] relevant projects on bioeconomy governance and ensure inclusiveness and engagement of all actors. It is also relevant to cooperate and establish links with the Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) JU, and relevant EIT KICs.
Seek synergies and complement the knowledge and cooperation activities of the Startup Village Forum. Cooperate with “Rural networks” (soon to become the CAP networks) including the European innovation partnership on agriculture productivity and sustainability (EIP-AGRI) and the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD), and Horizon Europe Partnership Sustainable Food Systems.

Proposals should explore all available financing instruments on a European level, including relevant regional instruments (Cohesion Fund, CAP, ESF and others). Proposals should also describe how they plan to complement the ongoing activities of bodies such as the European Innovation Council, the Circular Bioeconomy Investment Platform, and the Enterprise Europe Network and European Institute of Technology (EIT) initiatives.

Social innovation is relevant for this topic as it contributes to strengthened rural innovation ecosystems and to find solutions for rural communities when the solution is at the socio-technical interface and requires social and behavioural change, new social practices, social ownership or market uptake. Proposal should contribute to improve the quality of life and long-term socio-economic prospects of rural and coastal communities, including women (especially supporting women-led SMEs and start-ups), youth and the most vulnerable groups like indigenous people or minorities and refugees.

This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines.